Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Al Ain: ACL 2013 contenders Al Ain clinched their 11th UAE Pro League championship after beating Dubai SC 3-0 at the Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium four rounds ahead of the end of the tournament.
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan (pictured, left) was the hero for Al Ain as he scored all three goals, his second hat-trick of the season, and helped Al Ain become the first club to win two consecutive titles since the league’s inception in 2008.
Al Ain increased their tally to 58 points from 19 wins and two losses, a comfortable 16-point lead over nearest rivals Al Ahli.
Gyan’s powerful header opened the scoring on 37 minutes before he doubled the lead through another header after 56 minutes. He completed his hat-trick 15 minutes from time.
The Ghanaian has now scored 28 goals in 20 league games in this season despite missing six weeks of league action while away at the African Cup of Nations.
“Everyone in Al Ain has been so good to me. I’m so so happy today,” Gyan was quoted as saying by UAE media.
Al Ain now sit on second place behind ACL Group D pace setters Esteghlal of Iran with six points and ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on goal difference.
Cosmin Olaroiu's (pictured, right) side now have two more rounds in the ACL to progress to the knock-out stage of the premier continental club competition.
They will travel to Riyadh to face Al Hilal on 23 April and then host Esteghlal a week later.
Photo: AFP